STORY CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Pre GABF Party
Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 10:36 AM

Logan strikes a Speedway pose whilst Dr. Bill and Paige ponder the next pour.

After checking into the hotel upon arriving in Denver and chilling the beer I brought from LA to contribute to the in-progress Pre-GABF part,y it is off to said party. Held annually by local beer raconteur and “Three Sheets” foil Logan “Ayiieee” Perkins, this year’s bash was at Indulgences, Etc., suitably a Belgian Chocolate shop across from the state capital building. The renowned Dr. Bill Sysak from Stone Brewing was on hand to pour, ably assisted by another Californian, the lovely Paige Reilly of Shmaltz Brewing and Blue Palms fame.

Literally hundreds of beers were poured, five every five minutes. And drank down almost as fast by the thirsty throng. Among the offerings were Dark Lord, Mikkeller Black Hole, Cuvee de Tomme, Schafly Reserve Imperial Stout 07, Double Bastard 05, Upstream Gueuze and a braggot-tasting homebrewed peach lambic called Mission Impeche-able. Literally too many beers and too little time.

I hovered around the pouring station to ensure I got a taste of the 2 beers I brought: The Bruery’s rye whiskey barrel-aged Autumn Maple 07 and the great new IV Saison from Belgium (I forget the brewery). I didn’t think anything could improve on the amazing Autumn Maple, but the barrel aging did it, the whiskey notes enhancing the yam flavors wonderfully.

Believe it or not, many of us were still thirsty, so Evan and I grabbed a cab to the Falling Rock Tap House. Stay tuned…

Good for what ales ya: Dr. Bill administers a pour.

Just a portion of the beer list/pouring schedule.

Just a portion of the “dead soldiers.” No, not the guy; he’s texting.

Off to Avery
Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 2:06 AM

Evan and Gabe at the Avery Tap Room in Boulder, with the “Beast-ly” bartender in the back ground.

Well, Gabe never reserved that rental car, so he, Evan from Brewbakers, Julian and I took a cab to… Avery Brewing in Boulder. Not only were they launching a new beer (sour of course), the barrel-aged Sui Generis ($8 a 12 oz bottle; limit of 6), but they had some rare beers on tap and were pouring tasters.

Among those we quaffed:

Reverend Oak Barrel 05. The Cabernet barrel aging gives a nice winey character to this already complex quadrupel. Best of the lot.

Eagle Rare Reverend 08
The same base beer aged in Eagle Rare Whiskey barrels.

Oak Barrel Salvation 09
Belgian Golden Ale aged in Cabernet barrels with Brettanomyces added. Very bretty.

Brett 16
Avery’s 16th anniversary saison aged with Brett added. Puts the farm in farmhouse.

Good Sally
Salvation with Brett but no barrel aging. Funky but not as complex as the oak barrel version b

Port Altar Boy
Yet another version of The Reverend.

Dry-hopped IPA.
Better than the original!

The Beast 05
Mellowed and oxidized somewhat after 4 years but still a monster.

What could possibly follow that?

The meter on the taxi was running so we hadda head back to Denver. No chance to taste the Sui Generis — but there will be an opportunity soon.

Arrived in Denver
Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 2:28 PM

Julian admires Boulder Brewing’s cold Hop, left, and Hazed and Infused at the brewery’s airport bar.

Arrived in Denver to rain and temps in the low 40s. Met up with SoCal pro-am brewer Julian Shrago, whose Panzer Imperial Pilsner, via Port Brewing, is in the GABF ProAm competition, at LAX.

We grab some lunch and a couple beers at Boulder Brewing’s airport bar whilst waiting for Gabe Gordon from Beachwood BBQ’s flight to land. Gabe is renting a car, and we’re off to…well, let’s not give that away yet.

The Cold Hop was chewy hoppy. British style Pale ale, roughly. Hazed and Infused, a much hoppier American Style IPA, had a great, toasty tea-like flavor from it’s not unsubstantial dry hopping.

All 4 now…

GABF Bound
Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 9:30 AM

Ah, beer for breakfast. Killing time at LAX before boarding my flight to Denver. Somehow a Märzen always tastes better this time of year. That said, this Gordon Biersch take on the style will likely be the most mediocre beer I will consume for the next five days or so. Next stop, Beertown! All aboard…

Tomm Carroll is a feature writer and the L.A. correspondent for the Celebrator Beer News, the oldest beeriodical in the United States. He has also written about beer for the Ale Street News, Los Angeles Times and Entertainment Today, and is an experienced Beer Judge in homebrew and commercial competitions. An avid beer drinker, enthusiast, collector, writer and traveler, he drinks locally and globally. He can be reached at [email protected].